Independence Coffee Co. owner Christi Bond’s company was designated a Women’s Business Enterprise, the largest third-party certifier of businesses owned and operated by women, in early August.

Independence Coffee Co. owner Christi Bond’s company was designated a Women’s Business Enterprise, the largest third-party certifier of businesses owned and operated by women, in early August.
Earlier this month, a representative from the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), the largest third-party certifier of businesses owned and operated by women, arrived at 2805 U.S. 290 West here to visit Independence Coffee Co. owner Christi Bond.
After submitting heaps of paperwork, the on-site interview was the final step in the company’s pursuit to be designated a Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE).
After a tour of the building and its equipment, the WBENC representative conducted an extensive interview with Bond: “Who’s in charge of hiring and firing employees? Who signs the checks? Who reviews contracts?”
She relayed details of her responsibilities, participation and involvement in the day-to-day operations of the company she founded with her husband Ragan in 2003.
“There was a whole lot of work put in to prove that, truly, a woman is involved in all aspects of the business, which wasn’t hard for us to prove,” Bond told The Banner-Press.
“We started this from the ground up. It wasn’t like I stepped in two years later. I have always held majority ownership of the company.”
WBENC said the approval process could take weeks, but the very next day, Bond received the certificate — a simple piece of paper that welcomes new opportunities for the growing coffee wholesale and retail manufacturer and distributor.
“We were very excited,” Bond said. “Being acknowledged as a woman-owned or minority business opens up a lot of doors.”
In addition to its potential marketing benefits, the certification allows access to a network of companies actively seeking contracts with businesses like Independence Coffee Co.
“I’m very proud of the acknowledgement itself, but I’m the kind of person who knows it was a team effort,” she said.
“I’m very humbled by it, but I’m quite conscientious of the fact everybody under this roof has contributed to the growth and the success of Independence Coffee.”
For more information about the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council, visit www.wbenc.org.
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